Gangtok: A recent tweet by Union Minister for National Highways Nitin Gadkari indicates that Gangtok will get a two-lane by-pass road from Ranipool to Burtuk.
The sanctioned 23.316 km 2-Lane with paved shoulder from bye-pass from Ranipool to Burtuk by Union Transport ministry under the current financial year 2021-22 worth of Rs 385.15 crore would ease the growing traffic burden of Gangtok. It would also be crucial for strengthening the strategic border with China at Nathula Pass and North Sikkim.
Gangtok’s Tadong constituency Legislator Gay Tshering Dhungel, a former bureaucrat from the roads and bridges department who now serves as an advisor to Road & Bridges Department, Government of Sikkim, said, “Sikkim is strategically located and is crucial for national importance. This sanctioned road is very crucial not only for strengthening the connectivity issues and decongestion of Gangtok town but equally important for the national interest.”
The central Government had also sanctioned the same road strength in November 2010. However, the Buramputra Infrastructure construction company failed to complete the work and remained pending due to legal issues since 2014. The State of Sikkim had won the Court case in 2015 and had been appraising the union ministry of transport for sanctioning the same stretch of road.
Owing to the State government continuous persuasion of matter with high-level delegations and meeting with the Union Government, the sanction was awarded a revised price worth of Rs.385.15 crore.
“The tender work and other official procedures will be completed before February 2022 and is expected to complete by January 2025”, shared Dhungel, adding that construction and improvement of other state highways and national highways are also going on at a good pace.
